Dennis Leary

When Dennis turned 12, he was already driving on the highway. He got his license at age 14. I asked Dennis if he was always interested in cars. He answered a definite “yes”. He then fondly recalled a time when, on his Dad’s Ranch, he would go out after dinner, and start nearly all the equipment and trucks that the men parked. He would drive ten feet forward and back. Sometimes he left they key “on”, and the batteries would be dead in the morning. The men would come out in the morning and say “he’s been out here again”. Years later, he found out that he was called “an awful nuisance”. We all had a chuckle at this memory.

Dennis loved his first car. It was a 1935 LaSalle. His dad bought another car in ‘42, and he eventually gave the La Salle to his son. He said that the 1935 looked very similar to the Labhard’s 1937 Imperial.

Dennis recalled that his dad said he would do ‘anything’ do drive. One of his summer jobs was to help sand the roads. When they sanded roads, they oiled the roads first and then put sand over the oil. It wasn’t the easiest job in the world. He loaded and unloaded sand every day, to get the job done, but he got to drive the truck, and that was his joy.

Another fond memory which Dennis always considered an “adventure” was to visit the car dealers to pick up their catalogs. A couple of times he remembers going to Earl C Anthony Packard Dealer in San Francisco. He recollected that their Showroom was very spectacular. He just loved those adventures of visiting the car showrooms.

Back in the 40’s, his hometown of Walnut Grove was a ‘thriving’ town. By 1947, there were several car dealers that included – Chevrolet, Ford, Kaiser Frazer, Pontiac, and GMC trucks. I was disappointed because he did not mention Chrysler, but happy to hear that in Isleton, a few miles down the road (and my Mom’s hometown); there was a Dodge dealer where his parents bought two Chryslers. Today, Walnut Grove and Isleton are shadows of the towns they once represented, but still a delight to visit, if you don’t live there.

The 1966 Imperial that Dennis now owns, originally belonged to his parents.. Dennis ordered it for them from a Dealer in Lodi, Ca. His parents picked the color. The license plate frame is still the original. The reason the Imperial was purchased was that the front seat was a divided bench seat. He had a tall Father and a much shorter Mother. They drove often, and many times across country. They would always split the driving chores. Every hour they would switch. In the past, when they took their turn at driving, they would have to pull the seat closer to the accelerator for his Mom to drive. His Dad, being so tall, would have to endure his knees to his chin, as he sat on the passenger side. During their car shopping trip one year, they visited the Imperial dealer in Lodi. When his Mom saw that the Imperial had separate controls for the split bench seat, she knew they were going to buy the car. It wasn’t a true bucket seat. It was a bench seat, but they could individually adjust it. The ’66 Imperial won her heart. After she drove the Imperial for 100,000 miles, she was ready for another car. He did not want them to trade the Imperial in, so he bought it from them.

We had a chuckle during our interview when I asked Dennis if he was mechanically inclined. He said he “thought so”, but he also said that when you have “better mechanics working with you”, he wouldn’t be so sure. I am sure Dennis was being humble. I am sure the learning opportunity to learn more about the care of your own car is enjoyable.

Dennis served in the Air Force for four years. He served one year in Korea. When he served his time in the Service, he returned to ‘The Ranch’, and worked with his Dad and brother.
Dennis has been a member for many years. He has hosted two Christmas parties at his beautiful ranch home in Walnut Grove. At the last Christmas party, which Ken and I got to attend, Dennis gave us mementos of his family’s produce label. His favorite memory of the Car Club was when John Tennyson came to Dennis’ rescue, when the power steering hose on his Imperial gave up just as he was driving into the parking lot for an annual meeting around the Napa area. He is still soo appreciative of John fixing the power steering hose on his Imperial. Dennis continues to enjoy the club activities near home in Sacramento. Along with his Imperial, Dennis cherishes his other classics which include a ’49 Ford, and his ’69 Ford XL Convertible which he is also very proud.

Thank you, Dennis for sharing with us. You are a valued member of IOANC member.